Growing the Culture of a Learning Community

Title:	Growing the Culture of a Learning Community
Subject:	all staff
Grade:	any
Time Frame:	1 hour
Summary:	Working in jigsaw teams, each member will take a resource to read, consider and connect to practice, then discuss, summarize and craft a "Top 5" list to share with their team. Resources center on Professional Learning Communities, Cultures of Innovation, Digital Wisdom and the "Implementation Dip" of change.
Tasks:	Growing the Culture of A Learning Community: Think: Group 1: Communities of Continuous Inquiry and Improvement - Attributes of Professional Learning Communities Read & Consider: What elements of a learning community are already present on our team? Of the attributes outlined in the article, which are our strongest? Which need more of our attention? Why bother...in what way(s) might our consistent attention to these efforts support our individual & collective work? Discuss with your group: Individual responses to questions above As a group, craft a "Top 5" list of elements you believe are most critical to the development & success of our learning community Group 2: Creating A Culture of Innovation Read & Consider: In what way(s) might our work this year be considered "innovative"? Of those listed, which innovative behaviors are present on our team? In what way(s)? Of these behaviors, which appear to influence or shape our practice the most? Why? Of those listed, which behavior(s) do you find, or imagine to be most challenging? Why? Discuss with your group: Individual responses to questions above As a group, craft a "Top 5" list of elements you believe are most critical to the development & success of our learning community Group 3: Digital Wisdom Read & Consider: How would you describe "digital wisdom"? In what way(s) might "digital wisdom" play a part of our work this year? How might our attitudes influence or shape this opportunity (in support of and as a hindrance to...)? What process changes might we need to make to help us address coverage of content, as described in the article? Discuss with your group: Individual responses to questions above As a group, craft a "Top 5" list of elements you believe are most critical to the development & success of "digital wisdom" in our learning community Group 4: Implementation Dip Read & Consider: Have you felt an "implementation dip"? If so, how would you describe it? What might be important to keep in mind as we work through these dips? How could your campus leaders best recognize and support your efforts? What strategies will you employ to work and persevere through the challenges associated with implementing change? Discuss with your group: Individual responses to questions above As a group, craft a "top 5" list of elements you believe are most critical to the ongoing development & success of our efforts? Jigsaw: Gather with a member from each group Share your notes & post in discussion area (click on text bubble at the top of this page) What connections did you draw between your readings? How does this relate to other goals and initiatives at work in your district/school? What is our purpose, Why create this community? Consider Top 5 of each partner. If asked to consider both lists and blend to create a new "Top 3" what would you include? What are the "Yeah, but..." issues we need to overcome? If possible, post in digital environment (Edmodo, Wikispace, Moodle, etc.) Visit the "Yeah, but..." posts of the group above and below yours What strategies can you offer for working through those obstacles? Share: whole team Given your conversation, what might we need to consider as we learn toward our goal(s) of .... (ex: student-owned learning, global connectivity, etc.)? What professional & pedagogical process changes will be important to consider? What do we want or need to avoid to make the most of this opportunity?

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Discussion:

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